Be With You: My 44th Blog of the year 2026

Well, welcome to our readers here in New Zealand, & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger, but first in gaming such as me playing Cricket 26 on the PS5 for the first time in a few months as of March 26th where the update had introduced shot force as well as shot force for types of strokes where I was overly impressed about it when I discovered that I set it to 100 so I had opportunities to hit sixes out of the park since the update came along, & I was once comparing gameplay to that Cricket 26 game to that Cricket 07 game that I own at the moment on PlayStation 2, & the Cricket 07 one was better than Cricket 26 (Where it had the best graphics than any other cricket sims all along) in terms of gameplay (But I have not played the Rugby League 26 game since because I have been enjoying that Rugby League 2 game on the PS2 that I always play, & I think I'm a gaming historian throughout), but there were players from the Ashes participating countries of both Australia & England in that era in Cricket 07 such as the late Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Ricky Ponting, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook & Andrew Flintoff, compared to Cricket 26 where they had Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer & Jacob Bethell.

And secondly in the music that one of the old time bands of the Foo Fighters (Well, they're American because they were originally from Seattle in the state of Washington, but they're most experienced rockers of them all) have released new songs such as 'Caught in the Echo' that I heard on YouTube once along with another one of the old timers like the UK's rockers of Muse with their new hit, 'Be With You' from the upcoming album due for release in June this year called The Wow! Signal that is influenced on the space radio signal which circulated in 1977 as I heard on the radio station of Brian FM (My fave since I first heard it in 2015, but I started to listen it since because of the Rock FM always play ads on the radio compared to Brian which is commercial free) for which had a mixed reaction, saying that the sound of their new music is awesome while others think that it's just plain rubbish at the moment, along with the new rock acts (Well, they have been around since they released their major label debut studio album back in 2012 of Vessel) of America's Twenty One Pilots, also with their new song, 'Drag Path'.

And thirdly that why I always like ice hockey, because of me influencing Rejean (Well, I have not seen him along with Aunty Tan for like 84 days as of March 27th, but his 64th birthday is due on the last day of March on the 31st) who is also always an ice hockey watcher, but I mainly watch the rugby just like Pops (And we support the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific, compared to Rejean who has been a Montreal Canadiens (Which is a team that currently competes in the NHL) fan throughout).

And lastly that the dramedy of the Fighting with my Family movie that came out back in 2019 (For which was a success in terms of rave reviews), was about a female wrestler named Paige (Who used to compete under her real name Saraya or Saraya Knight who was with AEW (Until she returned to the WWE recently, after 4 years away when she left in 2022 (8 years following her debut also back in 2014 where she took AJ Lee (Who also made a comeback to the WWE) a pounding to capture an unlikely win to claim the WWE Divas Championship title on Raw the night following WrestleMania XXX) at WrestleMania XLII where she teamed up with Brie Bella to replace the injured Nikki (Who is Brie's twin sister) to claim the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship altogether), just like the Canadian wrestler from AEW named Adam Copeland who once competed as Edge during his time in the WWE, but he's allowed to keep his nickname of 'The Rated R Superstar') being born from a tight knit wrestling family from Norwich in the UK about to break through the ranks (And her bro Zak should've joined because he did not make it) in the world of pro wrestling who was introduced by her mentor of the Rock (Dwayne Johnson), but they should have made a sequel about the life of Rhea Ripley who was also born from a family of wrestlers in Adelaide, Australia, to become one of the country's most successful professional wrestlers (Just like that they closely working on making a sequel to the highly successful F1: the Movie from last year starring Brad Pitt (The American Hollywood film star & A-lister) that was far better than the Sly Stallone CART Champ Car movie, Driven taken from back in 2001), but next year's WWE 2K game should focus on the career of the lady known as 'Mami' & 'The Eradicator' who is the modern day version of the late Chyna in terms of the comparison between the 2 female wrestling superstars, just like CM Punk did when they released the WWE 2K26 game that focuses the career of the man known as 'The Straight Edge Superstar', 'The Second City Saint', & 'The Best in the World'.

So that is my 692nd blog of the year 2026 (MMXXVI) & my 44th of this year, viva Ukraine.

P.S. And the rock music industry was in mourning in February this year as the lead singer of the American rockers 3 Doors Down (Known for their hits such as 2000's breakthrough hit, 'Kryptonite', as well as 2002's 'When I'm Gone', & the most infamous one from back in 2003, 'Here Without You'), of Brad Arnold who he is gone because of him who sadly passed away after his lengthy but prolonged battle with cancer at the age of 47, so they've already sent their thoughts, prayers, & heartfelt condolences to the family of Arnold, & his loved ones, rest in paradise (RIP)/rest easy.

Brad Arnold

1978 - 2026

2 Minutes to Midnight: My 43rd Blog of the year 2026

Well, welcome to our readers here in New Zealand, & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger, but first in gaming that the other copy of the Star Wars Battlefront II PlayStation 2 game (Which seemed to be my fave PlayStation 2 game that I haven't played for 16 years since back in 2010 along with V8 Supercars 3 (It used to be my favourite racing game on the PS2 that I first played in 2007, until I stopped playing it in either also back in 2009/10) & Rugby 08 (It was last year that I first played it in back in 2007, & last played it in either back in 2008, '09 or '10), compared to GTA IV on the Xbox 360 that I play on the Xbox Series X console (I first played that game on the PS3 also back in 2012, until I stopped playing it until back in 2015/16), & Gran Turismo 7 on the PS5 (I first played it on the PS4 in March or April 2022, but I first played the PS5 version of it in September or October in the same year) that Aunty Tan (Who I have not seen her along with Rejean for 50 days as of the 21st of February this year) gave it to me seems to be working well, especially the disc since the original copy that I sold for 10 bucks at Cash Converters had not worked because I already own one (And I've got the PlayStation 2 version of it along with the first Battlefront game from 2004 that Aunty Tan also sent it to me, so too is the original Xbox version along with the aforementioned Battlefront '04 game that I both played on my Xbox Series X console that I've got along with the PlayStation 2 & the PS5 consoles, & the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection on both PS4 & PS5 version that was released the year before, but it got panned according to most reviews about the multiplayer mode that was lacking due to its bugs & glitches being found, & I have not played it since (Well, I have played it as part of my comparisons to other versions of the ports), so I'm enjoying it right here (And I played my 2 favourite Jedi heroes of both Luke Skywalker & Obi-Wan Kenobi on instant action game mode (Compared to a pair of my fave villains of the Sith side, such as also both Darth Vader & Darth Maul), but I think I might've clocked Rise of the Empire single player campaign mode which is about the 501st legion during the height of the Clone Wars that took place as the Galactic Republic who would eventually become the Galactic Empire (Which is inspired by nationalist Germany during the late German leader & their regime in both the 1930s as well as 40s, intentionally designed by George Lucas to evoke the aesthetics, structure, and totalitarian nature of nationalist Germany, serving as a narrative archetype for fascism and authoritarian control. It features stormtroopers, SK-like uniforms, and a "Final Protocol" reminiscent of nationalist extermination, & to the extent of the Roman Empire, the late Napoleon Bonaparte, & American imperialism in Vietnam), until the events of the Battle of Hoth during the times of the Galactic Civil War).

And secondly in food related news such as me going to Burger King with Pops where I had the single whopper with cheese on the 19th of March, a day before we had Subway where I had the meatball sub on March 20th, then a day later when we went to the Cobb on the 21st of March where we had a butter chicken for dinner, then we had dessert such as the triple chocolate brownie, & finally on March 22nd that we went to Caroline's that I had a medium rare steak with mushroom sauce, chips & salad (But I always take food photos on my phone so I can post everything a winner, especially like a pro & boss as well).

And thirdly that I started to become a political insider, as well as observer & influencer all along since the situation has happened in Iran, especially the leadership of that dreadful American leader who started that war is a disgrace (And the Americans, they made them so damn evil (Especially the pro-far right wing conservative people), & of course, they share a border, with Canadians...And Mexicans), & the fuel prices have already changed according to the high inflation rate that had been spiked & skyrocketed (And it looks like both Dad & Pops would have to get EVs (Electric vehicles) within the next 6 months, but Pops had been thinking about it, & he will make a decision regarding of getting one, but he prefers to keep both cars because of him having a sufficient amount of money to pay for gas, so he earns $100k towards superannuation) so the Americans & the Iranians (Who could be winning the invasion in terms of taking the advantage of using their manpower) are battling to claim ownership of the island which is near the strait of Hormuz.

And finally that I was watching an old Super Rugby game from the archives which was way back in 2003 where the Hurricanes led by recently appointed All Blacks assistant coach Tana Umaga (Who is the newly named defensive coordinator, & is one of 5 assistants working under Dave Rennie that'll take us through to the next men's Rugby World Cup next year along with Neil Barnes (Who takes charge of senior leadership role, & is a lineout expert), Jason Ryan (A forwards coach who was the sole survivor under the departed Scott Robertson) & Scotsman Mike Blair (The most capped Scottish halfback who was the first foreign AB's assistant coach since Aussie Mick Byrne when he was once the kicking coach, & is set to be the offensive coordinator) as well as Phil Healey who takes over from Nic Gill who is heading to the Baltimore Ravens NFL franchise, as head of performance) had a close shave against the Queensland Reds at the old Ballymore ground in Brisbane where our franchise won by 3 points, not only because they are showing that match on Sky Sport NZ in anticipation to that match due to be held on the 28th of March (A day after Moana Pasifika play the Highlanders first at North Harbour Stadium in Albany (The one that the late Carole once lived near the venue before moving to Whanganui (Well I first met her in 2017 when she first visited that city) here where she once lived the Tikitere house (That is up for sale recently) for 7 years & 4 months, then she passed away in November last year), then an all important Aussie clash between the ACT Brumbies & the New South Wales Waratahs) between the 2 sides at the newly named Hnry Stadium in Wellington, just before the Blues take to the field at Eden Park against the Fijian Drua as part of the triple header along with the Western Force playing the Chiefs at HBF Park in Perth.

So that is my 691st blog of the year 2026 (MMXXVI) & my 43rd of this year, viva Ukraine.

P.S. And the racing world was in mourning in May this year (Remember, they already lost NASCAR icon of American Kyle 'Rowdy' Busch due to brief sickness) as former Formula One driver as well as twice CART Champ Car world champion from both 1997 (That was the year after he won rookie of the year honours in IndyCar during the CART era way back in 1996, but he had a rivalry with Colton's dad Bryan Herta (Whose son is a bit of a lookalike of the now late Alex (The man who is effectually known as 'The Pineapple' throughout), according to one of the YouTube comments that I saw) from 1996 where he overtook him during the final lap of the race at the season ending event at Laguna Seca, then copped a bit of beef a year later until the rivalry ended when he returned to Formula One for the 1999 season after securing back to back titles with Chip Ganassi Racing in an unsuccessful tenure with Williams), & 1998 who lost both legs in a near fatal accident during an American open wheel race at the Lausitzring Speedway in Germany back in 2001 that ended his racing career according to the previous stories that I did on my blogs, & double Paralympic hand cycling gold medalist Alex Zanardi has passed away aged 59 back home in Padua, Italy, so all thoughts, prayers, & heartfelt condolences go to the family of Alessandro, & his loved ones (Although he is survived by his wife Daniela, & his son Niccolò altogether), requiescat en pace (RIP).

Alessandro 'Alex' Zanardi

1966 - 2026

Caught in the Echo: My 42nd Blog of the year 2026

Well, hey again, welcome to our readers here in New Zealand, & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger (And this is part 2 of my 35th birthday blog coming right at you guys because this is a double post, remember ladies & gents), but first that here are the results coming in about the latest round of Super Rugby Pacific which is round 6:

Highlanders 7 - 50 Hurricanes

ACT Brumbies 33 - 24 Chiefs

Fijian Drua 6 - 21 Queensland Reds

Moana Pasifika 21 - 50 Crusaders

& New South Wales Waratahs 20 - 35 Blues

Bye: Western Force

And secondly that in 2022 that the world was stunned just like 9/11 back in 2001 when the country who started that dreadful invasion on Ukraine (A year before the Gaza conflict began in 2023, & it lasted for 2 years until a ceasefire deal had been set up by the United States last year which was the year that America had implemented a certain tariff policy on imports coming into the country under that dreadful American leader) during the heights of the COVID pandemic (Which lasted for about 3 years from 2020 until also in 2023), but recently this year that the US made its decision to start a war on Iran, the world was stunned again, but both of these invasions could last forever because it may take a long time to end such wars like that.

And thirdly in gaming that I literally enjoyed playing the Rugby League 2 PlayStation 2 game that I bought from Dad on Trade Me, thinking that it's much better than Rugby League 26 (While that game, it is so much difficult to play, compared to Rugby League 2 for which is way easier (And modern day gaming stuff is just terrible at the moment, compared to old-school retro throwback kind of video game stuff, which is absolutely sick (That means it's good in the language of the younger generation of people) for which is a clanger, compared to Gran Turismo 7 that is a banger, & the Grand Theft Auto IV game being such a absolute banger, & a masterpiece according to the previous stories that I did on my blogs (And I have not mentioned the Star Wars Battlefront II 2005 game (Not the 2017 one) being another one of these bangers, so too is Rugby 08 as well as Cricket 07).

And lastly that both Aussie NRL league players are making the switch to rugby such as former Paramatta Eels player Zac Lomax who has signed a 2 year deal with the Western Force right through until next year, & Angus Crichton (Who is a Sydney Rooster this season) who'll head to the New South Wales Waratahs on a lucrative 2 year contract until the year after (And also Mark Nawaqanitawase who'll be heading back to rugby playing for a club competing in the Japanese competition also next year), so that both of these players can be selected for the Wallabies in their ambitions of ending a 28 year drought of becoming champions of the world in rugby (Well, they have not done that since 1999 (Held in Wales with matches being played in England, France, Ireland, & Scotland) where Australia (Who had given away just the one try during the entire tournament in that year which was against the United States during a pool match that was scored by Juan Grobler for the Americans) featuring the likes of John Eales, Phil Kearns, Tim Horan, Jason Little, George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, Toutai Kefu (Who had an enforcer role the last time the Aussies dominated the World Cup), Ben Tune, Joe Roff, Rod Kafer, & Matt Burke last triumphed at rugby's global showpiece event) when the men's Rugby World Cup takes place next year which gets underway with the opening match of the tournament between the host nation, & the tournament debutants Hong Kong China in Perth (And this is just like in 2007 that both Ryan Cross, & Clinton Schifcofske who crossed over to rugby from league when both of them played for the Western Force, & the Queensland Reds respectively, but this is similar to the trio of Mat Rogers, Wendell 'The Big Dell' Sailor, & Lote Tuqiri who were key cogs when Australia reached the final when they last hosted the tournament back in 2003, but fell short in the end against England (Who had former league player Jason Robinson playing for them, & had scored the try during the final) thanks to that match winning field goal at extra time by Jonny Wilkinson (Which was shades of Stransky in 1995 that he ended the All Blacks chances of regaining the title, & Wilkinson was the one who became the best first five in the world, until our own All Black Dan Carter took over from him therefore becoming the best in that position, up until his last game of international rugby to date for which was the final also back in 2015 against the Wallabies who last appeared in the final in which DC performed well as he racked up 19 points in that Carter had been awarded player of the game honours, his best match of Dan's international rugby career since the 38 points that he racked up in one of his all-time performances if not one of the best in the black jersey against the British & Irish Lions in Wellington back in 2005 during the 2nd test of the AB's-Lions series according to the previous stories on my blogs that I did), & then we had both Brad Thorn & Sonny Bill Williams who were league converts that were part of the winning squad also back in 2011 during our home men's Rugby World Cup (And SBW was involved in the winning side back in 2015 who were world champions again in that the last time that we were world beaters on that occasion for our country of New Zealand at that point).

So that is my 690th blog of the year 2026 (MMXXVI) & my 42nd of this year, viva Ukraine.

We Didn't Start the Fire: My 41st Blog of the year 2026 (AKA my 35th birthday blog special)

Well, welcome to our readers here in New Zealand, & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger, but welcome to my 35th birthday blog special where I'll be referencing the 36 most important events happened throughout the last 35 years starting from my birth year from 1991, all the way until now this year during the present day (Just like that famous song from Billy Joel of 'We Didn't Start the Fire' came out in 1989, referencing from his birth year in 1949, until the year of that infamous smash hit had been released in that year for which has become one of my fave songs from Joel) which is 35 years, 36 references.

1991: The collapse of the Soviet Union

1992: The official end of the Cold War

1993: The inauguration of US President Bill Clinton

1994: The late Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa (The first African to do so, therefore marking the end of apartheid)

1995: The launch of Windows 95 by Microsoft

1996: Atlanta, Georgia, USA, hosts the Olympic Summer Games

1997: The tragic passing of Her late Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales in Paris, France

1998: The foundation of search engine Google

1999: The tragic Columbine High School shootings in Columbine, Colorado, USA

2000: Sydney, Australia hosts the Olympic Summer Games

2001: The tragic 9/11 terror attacks in the United States (One in New York, & others in both the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, & a wooden area in Shanksville, Pennsylvania) which marked the beginning of the war on terror (And it was reminiscent to the Pearl Harbor invasion in 1941 during World War II)

2002: The tragic terror bombings in Bali, Indonesia

2003: The U.S.-led war on Iraq, takes place as part of the war on terror

2004: A devastating earthquake & tsunami rips through the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day

2005: The Hurricane Katrina disaster in Louisiana, United States

2006: Italy winning their 4th Football/Soccer men's World Cup in Germany

2007: The tragic Virginia Tech shootings in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

2008: The global financial economic recession (It was the worst financial crisis disaster since the Great Depression in 1929)

2009: The inauguration of the first African American president of the United States, Barack Obama (The best president that the US has ever had)

2010: Spain winning their 1st Football/Soccer men's World Cup in South Africa

2011: The tragic earthquake & tsunami in the Tohoku region of Japan that lead to the nuclear disaster in Fukushima

2012: London, UK hosts the Olympic Summer Games

2013: The tragic bombings during the marathon in Boston, Massachusetts, USA

2014: Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing, China, mysteriously disappears (Never I have ever mentioned it on my blogs before)

2015: A pair of major tragic terror attacks in Paris, France, in January & November

2016: The UK's decision to vote of departing the European Union dubbed as 'Brexit'

2017: The inauguration of that American real estate tycoon who would first gone on to become president of the United States

2018: France winning their 2nd Football/Soccer men's World Cup in Russia

2019: The Notre-Dame Cathedral fire breaks out in Paris, France

2020: The start of the global COVID pandemic

2021: The global rapid COVID vaccine rollout begins

2022: Argentina winning their 3rd Football/Soccer men's World Cup in Qatar

2023: The end (Formally) of the global COVID pandemic

2024: Paris, France, hosts the Olympic Summer Games

2025: The return of that dreadful American leader who started his 2nd term in office as he regained his presidency

& 2026: The U.S.-led war in Iran, also takes place.

And secondly that why the hell would the United States led by that dreadful American leader (Who is by far, a complete, utter scumbag in terms of his leadership for that is a disgrace for America in terms of the propaganda, especially critics who are pro far-right conservative kind of people, & their stuff that I still can't stand meaning that the country is due to celebrate their double half century of becoming independent from the British in 1876 on the 4th of July when the late George Washington who became the first president of the United States is indeed, a white supremacist nation for there will be serious ramifications, obviously there'll be a couple of far-left wing liberal people who are getting pretty filthy are already starting to lose it) start a war in Iran (And possibly Mexico when these bozos who are lunatics when they pelted projectiles towards the Border & Customs Immigration officers who take aim with their guns, & shoot them in order to scare them off (But there has still been a war since 2023 between Sudan & South Sudan due to tensions that the situation over there had already been arisen, & also between Cambodia & Thailand who thought that the war is over last year, but it's been restarted since) when both the Bahrain & Saudi Arabian Grand Prix events have been called off along with the Gran Turismo World Series event in Abu Dhabi in the UAE? Because it's just like when that country had to cancel a Formula One event in 2022 (A year before the last Grand Prix race had been called off up until that point this year in Italy at the Imola circuit due to host the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix that was blighted by the intense flooding in the country in 2023) due to that country who started that dreadful invasion that began which had continued since (And New Zealand racing legend of Greg Murphy said on the Late Braking show on Sky Sport that both Grand Prix events in Bahrain & Saudi Arabia had been cancelled (So that all 11 constructors can focus of developing their cars so that they can get it right that time as part of a 35 day break coming that has being imposed between the Japanese & the Miami Grands Prix respectively, even teams like Aston Martin & the reigning constructors champions McLaren (Who have a world champion driver who won the title last year of former Toyota Racing Series champion from 2016 of Lando Norris) are still struggling along with Red Bull powered by Ford who turned out to be a disaster during qualifying to adapt to the new regs (And it's often compared to both Ferrari & Mercedes-AMG are dominating the front of the pack that has drawn parallels to 2017-18 levels where Lewis Hamilton took on Sebastian Vettel in terms of the title fight) but avoided mentioning of saying the word of war (For which is another word that I can't stand & trust with, along with both autocracy & propaganda, even though that I'm an anti-war activist type of person just like the late Carole who always does where she was the same as me when Carole was alive) which could be bad for most people (And if we were involved in that invasion that we would be targeted (But it is lucky that we're not due to our country being far away from the main epicentres of these conflicts in Iran (Well, that could be a blow for the US in a bid to end the current Iranian regime, compared to back in 2003 where the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein got captured by those American special forces after months in hiding during the war in Iraq bringing a halt to the regime of Saddam who was sentenced to death for his war crimes), & in Ukraine), such as enemy forces unleashing an air strike that'll murder them for that) thinking that it is a political statement, oh my word (And the global crisis is incoming due to the disruption of the war in Iran meaning that there will be increases to the price of food & fuel is impacting our country of New Zealand which is bigger than COVID that we once had when the global pandemic was around between 2020 to 2023, meanwhile in China that a critical fertiliser shortage has threatened global food security in the middle of the Iran invasion meaning that the inflation rate is doubling the amount as we could be heading into a recession just like in 2008-09 where they once had the global financial economic crisis, or even worse, the great Depression from 1929-39 that lasted about a decade prior to the advent of World War II from 1939-45 (And it's been 81 years since the world hasn't had a global war since), especially that we're currently experiencing us New Zealanders during in a time that we're still in a cost of living crisis).

And thirdly that I just bought Tekken: Dark Resurrection game (For that is the standalone update for the Tekken 5 game that features new characters such as the socialite from Monaco named Lili who is willing to put an end to her dad's financial issues, the Russian Spetsnaz soldier named Sergei Dragunov who is dispatched to bring the bearer of the Devil Gene of Jin Kazama (The protagonist of the Tekken series & future Mishima Zaibatsu leader (As seen in the ending in the leadup to the events of Tekken 6 where they started a war against the rest of the world) to justice, & the brother of the original Armor King who got killed by Craig Marduk of the 2nd Armor King + the returning 32 playable characters from the original Tekken 5 release, including Mishima Polytech schoolgirl Ling Xiaoyu, JACK-5, Lili's would-be bitter rival of Asuka Kazama, Yoshimitsu, Feng Wei, Hong Kong police detective Lei Wulong, as well as Jin, & Jin Kazama's abusive grandad who was once the head of the Mishima Zaibatsu of Heihachi Mishima) that was originally released on PlayStation Portable which was arguably by far, the best fighting game on the planet on that portable console on both the PS4 (The version that I mainly play with) & PS5 versions on PlayStation Network, & it is a good game (And I had their characters such as Jin, Xiaoyu & Asuka, restore back to their original colours from Tekken 5 (Then I did Marshall Law (One of my Malaysian besties fave Tekken characters because I thought it was Ling Xiaoyu) on the 21st of March, but I will be doing Paul Phoenix a day later on March 22nd for which I literally did), but it is way better than Tekken 6 PSP version that I have got (And I've got 6 Tekken games overall such as Tekken 2 that I never played on both the PS4 & PS5 versions, as well as Tekken 3 that I've got, & the last 4 Tekken games that I have at the moment such as the aforementioned Tekken: DR, then the also aforementioned Tekken 6, then 7 & 8).

And finally that I was rewatching a old Super 14 game on Sky Sport from 2010 between the Highlanders & the Hurricanes at the iconic 'House of Pain' Carisbrook ground (A year before 'The Glasshouse' of Forsyth Barr Stadium (One of both covered stadiums here in our country along with the soon to be opened Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch due in April this year, all in the South Island according to the previous stories on my blogs before) opens its doors in time for the 2011 men's Rugby World Cup tournament) in anticipation of the clash between the 2 sides on the 20th of March during round 6 where the Canes won by 2 points against them in a high scoring affair as 64 points were scored overall between the 2 teams, meanwhile that the Rugby 08 game had players in that era such as Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Schalk Burger, Yannick Nyanga, Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Williams, George Gregan, Percy Montgomery, Agustin Pichot, Stephen Larkham, Lawrence Dallaglio, & Bryan Habana, compared to today that there is modern day players such as Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Antoine Dupont, Eben Etzebeth, Marcus Smith, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Tom Wright, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Marcos Kremer, Julian Montoya, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, Finn Russell, Ange Capuozzo, Michele Lamaro & Tommaso Menoncello.

Enjoy

So that is my 689th blog of the year 2026 (MMXXVI) & my 41st of this year, viva Ukraine.

P.S. And the motor racing world is in mourning, stunned & in shock as Kyle Busch, the twice NASCAR Cup Series champion in both back in 2015 & 2019, has passed away recently as a result of severe pneumonia, aged 41 in Charlotte, North Carolina in the United States (And remember, they already lost Greg Biffle due to a fatal plane crash that occurred in December last year in Statesville, North Carolina in America, but Busch becomes the first active full-time NASCAR driver to pass away during the season since Dale Earnhardt Sr 25 years ago, also back in 2001 where Dale Sr was involved in a fatal accident during the great American race of the Daytona 500) where he was passed out in a Chevrolet simulator just before his passing as he was found not responsive in fact as he coughed out blood after being in GM's "Driver-in-the-Loop" sims are said to be "As close as drivers can get to racing without actually strapping in" as simulator sessions have become a major part of modern race preparation, especially for teams dialing in setups and helping drivers who train, or practice in situations like in a real-life race as he collapsed, then transported to a hospital where the illness had been severe, but all thoughts, prayers, & heartfelt condolences go to the family & his loved ones back home in the US, rest in pieces (RIP).

Kyle Busch

1985 - 2026

Move Along: My 40th Blog of the year 2026

Well, welcome to our readers here in New Zealand, & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger, but first in the rugby in Super Rugby Pacific that the Hurricanes snuck past the Western Force at McLean Park (In that ground where a cricketer of Brett Randell who got a triple hat-trick during a first class match which was the first in its 254 year-history during the Plunket Shield match between Central Districts & Northern Districts) in Napier in the Hawke's Bay province where both Jans & Cryn live (And it's the Canes who go on top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings after round 5 along with the Blues, & we assume the lead on points difference), meanwhile that the Fijian Drua had stunned the Brumbies apart at a new venue in Ba in Fiji, then it's the Crusaders who able to get their vengeance on the Highlanders in the 2nd & final part of the great Southern derby thanks to a Johnny Lee double with him being hailed as the next Richie McCaw, while the Reds also got revenge over the Waratahs in Brisbane, & the Blues who walloped Moana Pasifika in the new Battle of the '09 rivalry (One of the 4 main Super Rugby rivalries here in New Zealand along with the great Southern derby between the Crusaders & the Highlanders, as well as the Battle of the Bombays between the Blues & the Chiefs, & the Blues-Crusaders (AKA North Vs South) rivalry) in Auckland that was marred by Augustine Pulu who tackled Sam Nock high that resulted in a sin bin, then on report before the sin binning offence had been changed to a send off because of the degree of force that deemed to be high that resulted in a convincing landslide win for the Blues, meanwhile in the Six Nations that Wales finally had a win for the first time in the Six Nations since 2023 against the tournament's surprise package of Italy in Cardiff, then Ireland dismantle Scotland in Dublin in their chances of winning the Six Nations back before France (Who had the exceptionally talented winger of Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Who reminds me of former All Black of Fijian born Joe Rokocoko due to his finishing ability of scoring tries as well as his style of play) of scoring 4 tries in a match in which he had been awarded player of the game honours for his outstanding performance) nailed their dramatic buzzer beater from fullback Thomas Ramos against England (Who got penalised not once but twice for both a dangerous tackle first (In which one of the commentators of Dewi Morris said 'Oh my word!' when one of the English players whose tackle was deemed to be dodgy as it slipped up high, while the play-by-play commentator of Martin Gillingham says that France were playing the penalty advantage, because it's a high tackle after the buzzer had been sounded, then an intentional knock-on therefore the Georgian referee had awarded a penalty to the French, then they opted a shot at goal in which the ref reluctantly agreed before Ramos nailed the penalty goal as they sent the French fans who erupt the entire Stade de France through joy & relief, as the euphoria had been marvellous effort that (As the late Richie Benaud would always say), excellent), then a deliberate knockdown second time round before the Georgian referee had awarded the penalty to the French for which they had both options, one for high contact, then the other for a deliberate knock-on, but they chose the second so that they had the chance to win the game, & they delivered) to win by 2 points in Paris when they retained the Six Nations title that they followed up from last year (And the first time that happened when a side had secured back to back Six Nations championships was the Irish in that was the year before, but that match between the French (Who go into the opening match of the Nations Championship against the AB's at the brand new Te Kaha stadium in Christchurch due in July, with a win against the English to successfully defend the Six Nations crown (Even though with the Irish who were holding their breath every time England led, but there was an Irish born player playing for France of Joshua Brennan (Son of ex-Ireland test player Trevor), who in fact denied his country of birth for their chances & their efforts of regaining the Six Nations title, but what a disappointing end for England (And especially Ireland), what a match for our viewers right around the world) in a headline that probably says: FRANCE KO'S ENGLAND TO RETAIN THE SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP) & England, evokes memories of the game of the century between the Wallabies & the All Blacks (In one of the former AB's players & Crusader for life of Justin Marshall (Who used to have blonde hair, but Noah Hotham has sported it since this season began which is inspired by the man known as 'Marshy' by paying homage to it) who once said on the Breakdown programme that he had the best game that he was involved in during his playing days) in Sydney back in 2000 (Including our greatest rugby player of all-time of the late Jonah Lomu who would score that all-important but certain buzzer beater to win it with a game winning try (New Zealand led 24 - 0 where they had a fast but ideal start, including tries from Tana Umaga (Future Moana Pasifika coach), Pita Alatini, & Christian Cullen (One of my Dad's fave rugby players when he watched it on TV), until Australia (The hosts of next year's men's Rugby World Cup where they'll begin their campaign against the tournament debutants of Hong Kong China at Perth Stadium in Perth on the very first day of October, a day before the AB's get our tournament underway against Chile, then we square off against the Wallabies (Coached by former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt for the first 3 tests of the year before outgoing Reds coach Les Kiss hands the responsibilities from Schmidt) on October 9th at Stadium Australia in Sydney in probably the match of the tournament (As well as the rematch of the 2003 semifinal where the last time Australia would gone on to beat New Zealand at a men's RWC before we won the last 2 meetings against them, including in the 2011 semi where we finally had our first win at a men's Rugby World Cup against the Wallabies (Who defeated us twice way back in 1991 (Including David Campese's heroics in which he scored a try, then set it up for Tim Horan for the Aussies to hand us our first loss of the tournament (Just like the late Jonah Lomu (Who was a friend with 'Campo' off the field) in which he scored a try for the Blues against the Sharks during the 1996 Super 12 final, then set one up for Carlos Spencer) & the aforementioned one back in 2003 (Also including Stirling Mortlock who broke New Zealand hearts with a try off an intercept that surely won the game for Australia, therefore ending our chances of reaching the final) at Eden Park in Auckland, then at Twickenham in 2015 in the final where we had to beat them again to successfully defend the crown in one of the greatest men's RWC finals of all-time as well as the best men's Rugby World Cup game that I ever watched on TV) to determine who will win of taking on the world champion Boks side in the quarters of the men's RWC in another one of the most important games of the men's RWC because either of their sides could be shunted on the same side of the draw as the South Africans if they get the victory) who had to catch up by scoring 24 unanswered points to go all-square at halftime), therefore breaking Aussie hearts in a world record crowd in front of over 109,000 people that still stands as of today) where it was a high scoring affair that has been played out magnificently).

And secondly that I'm always addicted to pasta as my fave food (And I had a pasta weekend where I had pasta at Caroline's on the 13th for our big lunch, then I had leftovers for dinner that I cooked on Thursday where I had a small amount, & then on the 15th of March where I had a pasta day where I had pasta for both lunch here at our place, & dinner at St John's Club Elm's Restaurant), compared to Pops who is hooked to Indian curries because of the late Poppa Jim who seems to love that food back in the old days (And we had a curry meal there at Spice Guru on the 11th of March before I had one on March 14th where I had a small amount while Pops had one too, a day after he was having his butter chicken meal at Caroline's Boatshed).

And thirdly in the US that due to the new & updated tariff policies (Which are the big issues in which things have gone bad during the 2020s decade is having along with COVID & Gaza that they used to have, then that dreadful invasion since 2022 that are still currently having, followed by the aforementioned tariffs that are being introduced already by that dreadful American leader, & the US-Iran conflict recently in the Middle East) are being imposed by that dreadful American leader that Honda is effectively putting the brakes on it's proposed electric vehicles lineup in which they shocked the auto industry following a bombshell announcement, & while there's a particular piece of collateral damage that hits close to home for the aficionados of the Gran Turismo video game series which is the Afeela 1 therefore they won't send it's vehicles to America like that.

And lastly that there was a visitor (The one who goes to the pub regularly along with Pops at the Commercial Hotel which is New Zealand's oldest pub in the country in existence here in our place of Whanganui (My hometown since 2007 when I moved in with Dad after previously living in Raetihi for 16 years), & the last old style drinking establishment here in our country, which is in the town centre) who saw the birds that are his pets just like my late dog Buck that I used to have, especially the doves that I love at our place on the 15th of March as she posted it on Facebook after she took a video with it, before Pops showed the visitor around including the photos at our home.

So that is my 688th blog of the year 2026 (MMXXVI) & my 40th of this year, viva Ukraine.

Dirty Little Secret: My 39th Blog of the year 2026

Well, welcome to our readers here in New Zealand, & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger, but first the latest in the Iran war that was marred by one of the most horrific scenes in recent memory, as multiple American soldiers keep getting shot, when their troops are down in the hands of the Iranian armed forces who are taking advantage of the invasion (And it looks like they're going to win the conflict after all) under new management from the recently appointed supreme leader who is a son of a slain leader that are taking accountable to their own hands (And this is like Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones where heaps of Jedi warriors kept getting massacred by the droid army, until the clone troopers intervened by taking them towards their enemies) meaning that there has been justice for the assassination of that late Ayatollah (And that could be a turning point for them for their huge chance of victory in the conflict (That is massive), while this could be trouble for the United States in their effort to topple the current Iranian regime in which the world including us Kiwis are holding their & our breaths along with that dreadful invasion since 2022) who had been hit with casualties before they attacked the American troops (Who are cornered by the Iranian soldiers) left, right & centre in response to it therefore that there's no end in sight (And they have since closed airspace in the Middle East due to that terrible conflict that they're still having).

And secondly in gaming that I requested Dad to buy that Rugby League 2 game (For that the game was much better than Rugby League 26, but the RL2 game had players during that era such as Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Benji Marshall, Sonny Bill Williams, Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones, Steve Price, Anthony Minichello, Johnathan Thurston, Braith Anasta, Nathan Hindmarsh, Billy Slater, Mark Gasnier, Brett Kimmorley, Craig Gower, & Cameron Smith compared to today where they have Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster, Reece Walsh, Harry Grant, Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Stephen Crichton, Jahrome Hughes, Herbie Farnworth, Kalyn Ponga, Isaah Yeo, Mitchell Moses, Junior Paulo, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jason Taumalolo, James Tedesco, Mark Nawaqanitawase, James Fisher-Harris, Leka Halasima, Demetric Vaimauga, Adam Doueihi, Stefano Utoikamanu, Will Warbrick, Angus Crichton, Erin Clark, Josh Addo-Carr, Clint Gutherson, Moses Leota, Valentine Holmes, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Kotoni Staggs, Keano Kini, Selwyn Cobbo, Nicho Hynes, Mitch Barnett, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Cameron McInnes, Addin Fonua-Blake, Marcelo Montoya, Briton Nikora, Jamayne Isaako, Jacob Kiraz, Api Koroisau, Su'a Fa'alogo, Leo Thompson, Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, Gehamat Shibasaki, Joseph Tapine, Josh Papali'i, Dane Gagai, Lindsay Collins, Daniel Tupou, Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson, Greg Marzhew, Bradman Best, Dylan Edwards, Blaize Talagi, Ben Hunt, Kodi Nikorima, & Ronaldo Mulitalo) for me on the PlayStation 2 on Trade Me, & he agreed, but Dad told me that I need to hand him NZ $22 due to both the price & the additional postage & handling, & I did regarding to the price of it (And I just bought that Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition Remix game at Cash Converters as well after I went to Burger King for lunch with Pops on the 18th of March, but my PlayStation 2 gaming collection is up to 16 at the moment as of that day, compared to me having 27 PS4 games, 10 PS5 games, as well as just the 1 Xbox One game & only 1 Xbox Series X/S game, but I have a PS5 Pro console along with the 2 TB Xbox Series X gaming console, & a PS2 slim that I bought late last year also at Cash Converters when both Aunty Tan & Rejean were here at the time (And it's been 79 days since the last time me & Pops saw both of them as of March 22nd this year).

And thirdly in Formula One that the FIA has agreed to call off both the Bahrain & Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to fears over crowd safety regarding to that escalation between the Americans, & the Iranians during that brutal war (And it's the first time this has been happened (Aside from its rescheduling during the COVID era in 2020 that have wreaked havoc, especially the sporting world) since 2023 where the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix who were due to host that Grand Prix had been cancelled due to severe flooding in Italy, but it's not the first time that the Bahrain Grand Prix was called off, & it was in 2011 as a result of civil unrest) that has been dreadful & shocking meaning that the number of Grand Prix races this season are down to 22 therefore leaving a 5 week, 35 day gap between the Japanese & the Miami Grands Prix (While no replacement races such as Portugal (They're due to host a race next year as a replacement for the Dutch Grand Prix), & Emilia Romagna (They last hosted a race which was last year before the new Madring circuit in Madrid, Spain had taken over) had been given as a result of that invasion, even though with the Japanese Grand Prix are expected to take place on the weekend on the 27th to 29th of March, the last before the 5 week break coming since both the races in Bahrain & Saudi Arabia scheduled to take place, has been called off to suit the constructors (With Mercedes-AMG & Ferrari are battling on top even though 2 races are complete meaning that there's 20 to go in the new season) taking their time of developing their new cars (And Aston Martin (Headed by its key technical boffin of Adrian Newey) who are powered by Honda are in sorts of strife as one of their drivers of Canadian Lance Stroll had to retire from the race in China due to mechanical failure where the car had broken down (And Aston Martin are heading to Honda's home race in Japan where they're having their rough start to the new season, compared to IndyCar where their hybrid units are in fact, reliable, & the World Rally Championship have already ditched their hybrid units since last year thinking that it's not suitable for the teams like Hyundai, M-Sport Ford, & Toyota), so too are the defending constructors champions McLaren, & their reigning world champion Lando Norris who retired from the race along with Aussie teammate Oscar Piastri who had his 2nd DNF of the season), meanwhile the Finalissima between Argentina & Spain were set to originally take place in Lusail, Qatar, might be moved to Madrid as well because of that invasion (And they had to be cancelled at last due to scheduling constraints, & the invasion in the Middle East), but the latest in F1 as the young gun of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes-AMG makes history in China of becoming the first Italian driver to win in Formula 1 since the man effectually known as 'Fisi/Fisico', of Giancarlo Fisichella in Malaysia back in 2006, & he becomes the 2nd youngest to win an F1 race (The current all-time record is set by Max Verstappen in Spain 2016 where he famously won after both Mercedes-AMG drivers of Lewis Hamilton (The defending world champion at the time), & the eventual champion of German Nico Rosberg who both tangle on the opening lap of the race), while our own Kiwi of Liam Lawson in RB Racing Bulls, who has finished 7th place following his most impressive, but solid outing in a Grand Prix.

And finally in the rugby such as firstly in Super Rugby Pacific during round 4 that the Chiefs thrash Moana Pasifika in Hamilton, then the Hurricanes who thumped the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, as well as the Highlanders who manhandled the Western Force in Dunedin while the Blues have thumped the Crusaders in Auckland (Well, I thought that the Blues lost to the Crusaders, but however ended up winning them of course thanks to a hat-trick from Caleb Clarke (A second generation rugby player who is the son of famous player Eroni), & the Reds end the Brumbies chances of remaining undefeated in the competition in Carter Gordon's comeback season following a stint in rugby league with the Gold Coast Titans NRL side last season in an attempt to return to the Wallaby jersey of when he had a buzzer beater injury stoppage time moment of securing that match winning try, meanwhile in the Six Nations that Scotland had ended France's chances of securing the grand slam with a comprehensive win in Edinburgh, & then that happened when Italy defeated England for the first time in Six Nations history in Rome where they turned the rugby world upside down in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament to date of all time akin to a David against Goliath battle.

So that is my 687th blog of the year 2026 (MMXXVI) & my 39th of this year, viva Ukraine.

Your Favourite Toy: My 38th Blog of the year 2026

Well, welcome to our readers here in New Zealand, & around the world, I'm Whetu Ngapo & you're tuning in to my KiwiAvenger blog here on blogger, but first that I still miss my late close friend, even though she passed away 4 months ago as of March 7th, so I love her old car that now belongs to Pops (Although Andy (He was the one who told me for some reason that he & Pops misses her, even though he used to have afternoon tea with her during the time she was alive (But now Pops goes to the Commercial Hotel every day to have a zero alcohol beer every time as an afternoon tea), but Pops misses Nan (Well, I miss her too since she passed away over a decade ago) so much because of his marriage for 49 years) has handed it to him, but the car had been scratched due to it running over plants that made the car had warps & dents according to the comment from our friendly neighbour Mike just before we went to the River Traders Market on March 7th, & we saw both Dad & Raewyn there at the Burrow) & the reason why that I listen to Brian FM whilst being on that car, compared to the Ford (He'll still use it when getting new plants at Mitre 10, but he had driven to it since 2021) that I wasn't being able to listen it due to a battery change since the old battery had been flat such as leaving the lights on.

And secondly in gaming that I asked Dad to purchase that Cricket 07 PlayStation 2 game for me on Trade Me & he agreed for which is due to arrive in Whanganui on March 7th (And I have not played that Cricket 07 game since 2010 before I even traded my PS2 for my PS3 which lasted for 3 years where the revised model had received a YLOD (Yellow light of death) in 2013, before getting the PS3 slim until Dad traded it for me in 2016 at EB Games when he got the original PS4 for me, 3 years before getting my PS4 Pro model where I handed my old PS4 to Jans until I traded it in in 2024 where I sold it for money, & now I've got the PS5 Pro (Used to have the original PS5 model, then the PS5 slim) the Xbox Series X 2TB console (I also used to have the 1TB model) & the PlayStation 2 Slim gaming consoles respectively), but Dad got it for me meaning that I was stoked when it arrived so I finally played that game for 16 years (I manage to play & recreate the Group game against Australia & the semi against South Africa, then the finals of the men's Cricket World Cups' in 2015 against Australia as New Zealand & 2019 against England also as the Black Caps, as well as the men's T20 Cricket World Cup final in 2021 against the Aussies as New Zealand & the Champions Trophy final from last year against India also as the Black Caps (And I did manage to play against India as New Zealand in anticipation of the men's T20 CWC final), & the game is better than the modern cricket games that I own on both the PS4 & PS5 such as Ashes Cricket, Cricket 19, then Cricket 22, as well as Cricket 24, & Cricket 26, & it is certainly my favourite Playstation 2 game along with the holy trinity of Star Wars Battlefront II from 2005, V8 Supercars 3, & Rugby 08 therefore merging into the big 4 just like the 4 main heavy metal bands circulated around that they used to have such as Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica, & Slayer.

And thirdly that I was rewatching an old Super Rugby game (Just a couple of days after Dave Rennie has all but been confirmed to be the new All Blacks coach following an announcement on March 4th when he beat the likes of current Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph as replacement for Scott Robertson who decided to move on, as the ex-Chiefs & Wallabies coach is the first New Zealand head coach of Pacific Island descent (His family hails from the Cook Islands, so that's why that he hails from Palmerston North with his wife & both sons, & what was my reaction of him being appointed? Well, I guess we're going to win the World Cup, am I right? Yes indeed (And he would've stayed on as Wallabies coach after 2022 where Australia would've guided it through to the quarterfinals, then the semi of the 2023 men's Rugby World Cup (But they hired Eddie Jones instead which turned out to be a disaster as they failed to reach to knockouts for the first time (Why didn't they pick Noah Lolesio? When they opted for Carter Gordon (The ex-league player) instead) in men's RWC history), just like Rassie Erasmus in 2018 following his appointment as the Springboks coach thinks that the 2019 men's Rugby World Cup was a year away that he was the one of being able to turn it around of actually winning that tournament, & he agreed upon so) from the archives between the Crusaders & the Blues from 2004 at the old Lancaster Park (For which will be replaced by a new venue of Te Kaha in time for the Super Round, but that stadium's opening day won't serve alcohol to customers due to the ANZAC day legislation about the war on alcohol on a public holiday like that) where the key highlights of that game were Rupeni Caucaunibuca's try that he scored, even though Ben Blair (Who missed the 2003 men's Rugby World Cup for the All Blacks through injury) tried to tackle him before Rupeni (Who the All Blacks should have picked him, but he was ineligible due to him being from Fiji, but there was one rugby fan that someone would rank as their favourite) sprinted all the way to the try line, & then the length of the field stunner which started from inside their own in-goal area when Joe Rokocoko (And why did the All Black selectors chose him instead of Caucaunibuca, because he was eligible at the time) ran, then passed it to Justin Collins before giving the ball to their star first-five at the time of Carlos Spencer who scored that all-important try, then he was able to convert it after being scored by him meaning that the game was over (And the Blues had to nullify that Crusaders losing bonus, even if the kick went over by Spencer therefore that his try had been converted according to Tony 'TJ' Johnson in commentary during the match).

And lastly in football/soccer that there are the 2 protege's of both Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo & his main rival from Argentina of Lionel Messi, such as Frenchman Kylian Mbappe on Ronaldo's side, & young Spanish wonderkid of Lamine Yamal on Messi's side, because both Ronaldo & Messi (And their apprentices of Mbappe & Yamal) enjoy success such as Portugal winning Euro 2016 (Two years before Kylian won the Football/Soccer men's World Cup for France back in 2018), then winning the UEFA Nations League twice under CR7 (Including last year the he fought against Lamine in the final between both Iberian rivals of Portugal & Spain (As well as Argentina led by Messi took on France with their star talisman Mbappe in the Football/Soccer men's World Cup final which was the greatest World Cup final ever of all-time that the Argentinians tasted success of lifting the trophy since 1986 when they triumphed on spot kicks against the reigning champs at the time of becoming the new world champions in men's football according to the previous stories that I did on my blogs before (Including Randall Kolo Muani who thought that he scored the winning goal for the French that would've retained the World Cup, but it wasn't to be as Messi's main wingman of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez who made that fine save to prevent a certain goal from being scored, forcing them into a penalty shootout that really decided the tournament), then Argentina went on to win the Copa America twice in 2021 before successfully defending it in the year before under Leo (Same year that Lamine Yamal first tasted success at the Euros in the same year for Spain), but Argentina & Portugal have never met in a World Cup between the 2 star men of both Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi (Well they could met in the quarterfinal of this year's tournament with both sides needing to win groups & are in their twilight of their careers), compared to Spain met France who met twice because it was at the semifinal of Euro 2024 when Lamine Yamal played against Kylian Mbappe (Who fought against Ronaldo one last time in a quarterfinal that the French won on penalties, compared to the delayed 2020 tournament in 2021 where they first fought against each other that resulted in a drawn match during the group stage), then they met again of last year's semi of the UEFA Nations League.

So that is my 686th blog of the year 2026 (MMXXVI) & my 38th of this year, viva Ukraine.

P.S. Apologies to interrupt my blog, as we acknowledge the late Wally Wall's wife of Diana who is better known as Di, who sadly passed away recently due to declining health, & our sincere thoughts, prayers & heartfelt condolences to her as well as her whanau & loved ones back in Auckland for that emotional, tough time, rest in love.